The Northern Cape Department of Social Development and Transport, Safety and Liaison launched the ZF Mcgawu District Men’s Forum in Upington on Friday, 28 July.

The event had in attendance men of several government departments, the South African Police Service (SAPS), civil society formations, beneficiaries of government programmes and the community at large.

The overarching function of the establishment of men’s forums in districts is to carefully and systematically institutionalise the promotion of women’s rights and to develop functional safety networks to protect and safeguard its women, children and other vulnerable groups in society and workplaces.

Messages of support were delivered by the SAPS’s Men for Change network and civil society formations, as well as the ZF Mcgawu executive mayor Cllr Abraham Vosloo.

MEC Gift van Staden who, together with MEC Pauline Williams, spearheaded this campaign, emphasised the importance of men realising their duty to protect women and children in their society. They further called upon these networks to actively promote changed behaviour.